Is there anything Satan cannot influence down here?

[pc_76]

Okay, Satan had almost successfully at this point completed destruction of mankind by influencing man to destroy God's original design for the family, art, society, etc. Satan's agents on this earth has near-absolute domination of institutions like entertainment, government, etc. and can influence man to screw up society so bad to the point where a person only has himself and God (not visible) and that damage is already done.

Meanwhile, God is telling us to be patient and isn't going to bring to justice until all is done and we have to wait until the end of the world's life down here to see it. At least in the OT God purportedly was visibly active in earthly affairs and more immediately wrathful on those who did wrong even to an entire group or nation of people.

It's like in a conflict between two countries where one country is playing by Queensbury rules and the other is acting ruthlessly to win battle at all costs. God could choose to use agents down here to parallel what Satan's are doing down here, but the difference is that the rest of the world is the majority and God's are a remnant-a persecuted minority-because apparently humanity is more inclined to evil than good or even neutral.

But the main question prompting me to type this thread in the first place, is since Satan has almost done everything he can to almost successfully destroy what was good about mankind, is there anything that he can't influence man to do at this point?

 

[Recuerdo]

Satan can't do squat unless he obtains permission from God (see Job). Everything happens according to God's plan and no Satan's. He's a defeated foe and he knows it.
He can tempt and lead astray those unsaved, those who don't need God's grace. He can also tempt us, the saved once, and cause us to live a defeated life, if we let him.

More to the point of your tread, Satan has been trying to create his kingdom on earth since the days of Nimrod. The Bible tells us he'll be successful and for a period of seven years he'll rule here. There won't be any Holy Spirit to restrain him. Holy Spirit will be with the Bride of Christ in Heaven.
Those seven years will be the worst humankind would ever experience. So yes, he'll be allowed to have his heyday. But there's a judgment coming after his days.

 

[timothyu]

The Adversary turned the gentile church off the path and back to the world when it accepted what Jesus rejected in the desert.. worldly power. So anything is possible.
But we see God's influence everyday. Look at how powerful pundits and media moguls and big tech giants, not to mention those who lead in Christianity, are taken down by sex scandals. Look at the Starl*nk system designed to monitor the entire human population, was 80% destroyed by a solar flare. Will the same befall those same few who made 80% more than usual profits during a convenient pandemic, those who still enforce outdated 'temporary' laws and restrictions now that the pandemic is over, those who themselves or their mates make fortunes on the stock markets while they themselves in congress manipulate the laws to know ahead what will happen, or those who with a choreographed threat of war drive up the price of fuel to a level they were never able to reach before the Great Reset, although they tried?

 

[d taylor]

Okay, Satan had almost successfully at this point completed destruction of mankind by influencing man to destroy God's original design for the family, art, society, etc. Satan's agents on this earth has near-absolute domination of institutions like entertainment, government, etc. and can influence man to screw up society so bad to the point where a person only has himself and God (not visible) and that damage is already done.

Meanwhile, God is telling us to be patient and isn't going to bring to justice until all is done and we have to wait until the end of the world's life down here to see it. At least in the OT God purportedly was visibly active in earthly affairs and more immediately wrathful on those who did wrong even to an entire group or nation of people.

It's like in a conflict between two countries where one country is playing by Queensbury rules and the other is acting ruthlessly to win battle at all costs. God could choose to use agents down here to parallel what Satan's are doing down here, but the difference is that the rest of the world is the majority and God's are a remnant-a persecuted minority-because apparently humanity is more inclined to evil than good or even neutral.

But the main question prompting me to type this thread in the first place, is since Satan has almost done everything he can to almost successfully destroy what was good about mankind, is there anything that he can't influence man to do at this point?

he is god of this age and has basically 95 -97% of people believing in lies, especially in the lies of science pertaining to God's creation.

he has corrupted and confused the message of eternal life.

Ever since he was able to get Adam to take a bite of the fruit, darkness and lies have engulfed this earth. It will only be relieved of this darkness when satan is bound for the 1000 years.

 

[pc_76]

Satan can't do squat unless he obtains permission from God (see Job). Everything happens according to God's plan and no Satan's. He's a defeated foe and he knows it.
He can tempt and lead astray those unsaved, those who don't need God's grace. He can also tempt us, the saved once, and cause us to live a defeated life, if we let him.

More to the point of your tread, Satan has been trying to create his kingdom on earth since the days of Nimrod. The Bible tells us he'll be successful and for a period of seven years he'll rule here. There won't be any Holy Spirit to restrain him. Holy Spirit will be with the Bride of Christ in Heaven.
Those seven years will be the worst humankind would ever experience. So yes, he'll be allowed to have his heyday. But there's a judgment coming after his days.

Is that in a way similar to a master who uses another person to do stuff (even though he is morally against it) just to prove a point when it is all done? I know that description sounded clumsy.

 

[Aussie Pete]

Okay, Satan had almost successfully at this point completed destruction of mankind by influencing man to destroy God's original design for the family, art, society, etc. Satan's agents on this earth has near-absolute domination of institutions like entertainment, government, etc. and can influence man to screw up society so bad to the point where a person only has himself and God (not visible) and that damage is already done.

Meanwhile, God is telling us to be patient and isn't going to bring to justice until all is done and we have to wait until the end of the world's life down here to see it. At least in the OT God purportedly was visibly active in earthly affairs and more immediately wrathful on those who did wrong even to an entire group or nation of people.

It's like in a conflict between two countries where one country is playing by Queensbury rules and the other is acting ruthlessly to win battle at all costs. God could choose to use agents down here to parallel what Satan's are doing down here, but the difference is that the rest of the world is the majority and God's are a remnant-a persecuted minority-because apparently humanity is more inclined to evil than good or even neutral.

But the main question prompting me to type this thread in the first place, is since Satan has almost done everything he can to almost successfully destroy what was good about mankind, is there anything that he can't influence man to do at this point?

Humanity still has a conscience. However, conscience can be overridden when enough pressure is applied. The real sticking point will be the mark of the beast. That's when mankind will be forced to commit one way or the other.

"Progressive" and "woke" agendas are softening people up. So are vaccination mandates, you tube stupidity banning some posters and the forced acceptance of Satan's blender gender and homosexuality. Last, but by no means least, is the movement to promote women as angelic beings who can do no wrong and men as monsters who can do no right. Toss in confected outrage over non-existent racism, and it's quite a mix.

God has only one answer to these problems and that is the Church. Since the Church is supposed to be salt (a preservative), it is hard not to conclude that the Church has lost its saltiness. Lord Jesus was talking about salt that was piled up on the ground. The bottom layers get mixed with the dirt and becomes useless. How accurate that is in this day and age.

I am astounded at how quickly the Western world has succumbed to Satan's ploys. 50 years ago, homosexuality was illegal in Australia. Now I'm worried that it will become mandatory. That's a joke, of course. I hope. Gender confusion was considered a mental illness. Now it is illegal to stand in the way of a child wanting to change sex, even though it involves radical surgery and hormone therapy. So much for science.

The only limiting factor is the real Christians who engage in spiritual warfare. This is why I believe in a limited pre-trib rapture. Once the consecrated and active believers are taken up, there will be no one to stand in Satan's way. Some will be saved during the tribulation. They will suffer much, but they will be accepted into heaven, unlike those who follow Satan into the lake of fire.

 

[timothyu]

God has only one answer to these problems and that is the Church.

In the end even the institutional church in all it's forms will fall upon the return of Jesus as it's creds were gone the moment it realigned itself with the governments of man instead of God's.

 

[timf]

But the main question prompting me to type this thread in the first place, is since Satan has almost done everything he can to almost successfully destroy what was good about mankind, is there anything that he can't influence man to do at this point?

Your premise is not fully correct. What may have been "good" about humanity was lost back in the garden of Eden;

Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

There is a limit to what Satan can do;

1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Here is a link to a free pdf booklet about what Satan has done in history;

http://christianpioneer.com/videos/ebooks/Satanic_history_of_the_world_v1.pdf

Also available as web pages for cellphones;

Christian Pioneer - Current blog

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Okay, Satan had almost successfully at this point completed destruction of mankind by influencing man to destroy God's original design for the family, art, society, etc. Satan's agents on this earth has near-absolute domination of institutions like entertainment, government, etc. and can influence man to screw up society so bad to the point where a person only has himself and God (not visible) and that damage is already done.

Meanwhile, God is telling us to be patient and isn't going to bring to justice until all is done and we have to wait until the end of the world's life down here to see it. At least in the OT God purportedly was visibly active in earthly affairs and more immediately wrathful on those who did wrong even to an entire group or nation of people.

It's like in a conflict between two countries where one country is playing by Queensbury rules and the other is acting ruthlessly to win battle at all costs. God could choose to use agents down here to parallel what Satan's are doing down here, but the difference is that the rest of the world is the majority and God's are a remnant-a persecuted minority-because apparently humanity is more inclined to evil than good or even neutral.

But the main question prompting me to type this thread in the first place, is since Satan has almost done everything he can to almost successfully destroy what was good about mankind, is there anything that he can't influence man to do at this point?

God is always testing us and we are still in the flesh so I am affraid the temptations continue.
Blessings

 

[pc_76]

Last, but by no means least, is the movement to promote women as angelic beings who can do no wrong and men as monsters who can do no right

.
Kind of similar to the rhetoric of the church that men shouldn't "lust" (ie. Be attracted to) over the opposite sex but women are ignored. It's only the man that shoulders a burden.

Sometimes the church can sound just as ridiculous as the progressive agenda it condemns.

 

[timothyu]

God is always testing us and we are still in the flesh so I am affraid the temptations continue.
Blessings

That is why the Jewish religion claimed He created the Tempter, to test the allegiance of those who claimed to be of God and not of themselves and their self interest. Even Jesus had to spend time being tested.

 

[timothyu]

Kind of similar to the rhetoric of the church that men shouldn't "lust" (ie. Be attracted to) over the opposite sex

Today that might mean both sexes

 

[Daniel of Sweden]

God is always right. The Devil may hate and destroy, but God remains always right. Glory be to the Creator.

 

[BobRyan]

Okay, Satan had almost successfully at this point completed destruction of mankind by influencing man to destroy God's original design for the family, art, society, etc. Satan's agents on this earth has near-absolute domination of institutions like entertainment, government, etc. and can influence man to screw up society so bad to the point where a person only has himself and God (not visible) and that damage is already done.

Meanwhile, God is telling us to be patient and isn't going to bring to justice until all is done and we have to wait until the end of the world's life down here to see it. At least in the OT God purportedly was visibly active in earthly affairs and more immediately wrathful on those who did wrong even to an entire group or nation of people.

It's like in a conflict between two countries where one country is playing by Queensbury rules and the other is acting ruthlessly to win battle at all costs. God could choose to use agents down here to parallel what Satan's are doing down here, but the difference is that the rest of the world is the majority and God's are a remnant-a persecuted minority-because apparently humanity is more inclined to evil than good or even neutral.

But the main question prompting me to type this thread in the first place, is since Satan has almost done everything he can to almost successfully destroy what was good about mankind, is there anything that he can't influence man to do at this point?

He is "the god of this world" 2 Cor 4:4 as you point out.

However he is currently being held inside a fenced-in-boundary. He does not yet have full unrestrained freedom... but he will one day soon. Job 1 and Job 2 show him restrained at least somewhat.

Rev 7:After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, holding the seal of the living God; and he called out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

2 Thess 2:
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Rev 13:
13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people. 14 And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

 

[pc_76]

If Satan can not only be allowed to do things but is explicitly given permission and even encouragement to do so by God, then Satan and his agents may be similar to "useful idiots" for God just so he can prove a point.

Why am I also forced to be a part of either being's plan? Non-existence almost seems liberating. I still dread with anxiety that one day it will go from bad to much worse. It's almost like this fall was pre-destined to happen.

I think there are other people who struggled spiritually with something in the Bible or existentially angst that wish they could just not exist and not have anymore conscious memory of anything.

 

[angelsaroundme]

It is a highly controversial and complicated topic, but I believe the fall was always intended to happen. Sometimes people compare life before the fall as being like in your mother's womb. You have no concerns, no worries, everything is taken care of. The fall is being born and/or having to grow up. It's thinking you can do things yourself, making mistakes, and realizing you still need your parent like the prodigal son.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

When a person is genuinely saved, they will turn away from sin. While they remain committed to God, the devil can not touch them.

1Jn 5:18-19 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

However sin gives access to the devil, so he is always trying to influence Christians to sin.

 

[timothyu]

However sin gives access to the devil, so he is always trying to influence Christians to sin.

Yes, it is a simple matter of either our allegiance is to the self serving ways of mankind or to the ways of God in servitude to each other. Either, not both.

 

[Ligurian]

Is there anything Satan cannot influence down here?

"Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs
in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them."
--George Orwell, 1984